Weaving



Oct. 19, 1937. G. E. wEBsTERET AL 2,096,659

WEAVING Filed Sept. 3, 1935 INVENTORS'. GEORG/A E. WEBS 7E@ O i I L C? D ma/wwf /4/ asf/ fe Z50 l v v g zal `.15 if? 1 :12255 By f E I @f THE/R ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE WEAVING Appiieanon september 3, 1935,;se'ria1 No. 38,904 1o claims. (o1. 1394-33) This invention relates generally to weaving and particularly to simplified weaving apparatus and processes by which various types of fabric and woven articles may be conveniently and expeditiously woven so that the process and apparatus of this invention are particularly suitable for homecraft.

Although Weaving has heretofore been practiced on a limited scale as homecraft, the looms heretofore employed for that purpose have ordinarily been of large and inconvenient size and considerable skill is necessary in the operation thereof, particularly in the threading of the heddles which have been universally employed.

The present invention, although particularly adaptable for homecraft use because of its simplified character and the fact that devices made in accordance with the present invention can be of relatively small size or any desired size, further contemplates novelties adaptable to looms generally.

The object of the present invention, generally stated, is to provide weaving apparatus wherein the use of heddles is dispensed with.

A further object is to provide a weaving apparatus and process wherein the weft or filler is woven' upon a warp of resilient material which warp is later to be removed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a weaving apparatus and process which, although simple in form, is adaptable to the weaving of patterns and novelty designs.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in this connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the weaving apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention showing the relation of the weft or filler to the resilient warp;

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation showing the apparatu-s of Figure 1 in the relative positions occupied when sheds are formed;

Figure 3 is a view in end elevation showing another embodiment of the weaving apparatus having another type of shedding means;

Figure 4 is a plan vieW of the apparatus shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail view of the cam employed in the apparatus of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a detail View showing the manner in which the resilient warp supports the textile Warp;

Figure 7 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the shedding device.

In accordance with the present invention, generally stated, weaving apparatus is provided in which spreading of the Warpto permit insertion of the weft or filler strand is accomplished without the use of heddles and, in the various embodiments, by apparatus which moves the respective warps against a tension out of the position Y normally occupied by them in order to produce a shed. A series of cams arranged upon a shaft so as to be rotated together, but mounted so as to be relatively adjustable, is an advantageous device for accomplishing this result.

-Inaccordance with one aspect of the present invention the weft or ller strand of the material being woven is applied to a warp of resilient material, such as wire or rods with which the permanent textile warp is associated. This resilient Warp possesses a suflicient stiffness to permit the same to be supported in cantilever manner at one end leaving the other ends free for manipulation. The various groups of resilient warp rods may be moved out of alinement with each other in order to produce sheds in the man- When the resilient Warp is removed, the textile warp strand, which was held in position bythe resilient warp during the application of the weft, remains and hence the textile fabric remains intact.

OneV illustrative embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2. In accordance with this invention a series of resilient warp: rods I, 2, Il, l2, 2|, 22, 3|, 32, 4l, 42 are securedin cantilever relation in a suitable base block 3. The resilient warp rod is illustrated in detail in Figure 6. The rod l has its upper-end 265 bifurcated so as to adapt the rod to receive a textile warp strand 201 therein. When in position for operation the textile warp strand 2M extends alongside each of the warp rods and may either Ybe knotted or otherwise secured to the top thereof, or may extend up and back having both ends secured in base block 3. Inthe latter case it is evident that a double textile warp is provided. This arrangement provides a temporary resilient warp associated with a permanent textile` warp. Then the weft or filler is applied upon this composite-warp.

. It Willbe observed from Figure 1 that rods I,

II, 2|, 3| and 4| are shorter than the rods 2, I2, 22, 32, and 52 and that the upper ends of the former are free, wherea-s the upper ends of the Y latter are connected to a block 5. Also connecting the block 5 to the base block 3 is a pair of bars 6 arranged one at each end of the respective blocks. The bar 6 may also be made of nat resilient material so as to remain stiff in the plane of the rods 2, I2, but permit bowing 'thereof in a plane at right angles thereto.

Blocks 3 and 5 are, as shown, composed of complementary parts between which the ends of rods I, 2, I I, I2, etc. as well as bars Ii may be clamped. In order to permit adjustment of the relative positions of bars I, 2, etc., or the spacing therebetween in accordance with the weaving desired, the

. complementa] parts in blocks 3 and 5 may be provided with a plurality of notches spaced as lclose together as possible in order to providek alarge number of variations in the spacing of the rods. As an alternative, however, the complemental parts of blocks 3 and 5 may be provided with a groove lined with a yieldable material, such as a lm of sponge rubber, in order to securely grip the ends of the rods and clamp them together.

The base block 3 may be suitably mounted so as to rock or oscillate upon a base 'I which may be provided with suitable means for limiting the rocking movement of the base block.

When the base block 3 with its adjunct rods is rocked to the position illustrated in full lines in Figure 2, itwill be observed that resilient Warp rods extend not perpendicular, but angularly, so that the weight of. the block 5 on the outer ends of rods 2, I2, etc. causes a bowing of those rods as well as bars 5, however leaving rods I, II, etc. substantially straight as shown. This provides an o-pen shed 8 between the respective series of rods into which a textile strand or thread SimayY be laid or applied. It will be understood, of course, that in the first application of strand 9 the same will be tied to one or the other of end bars 6. Strand 9 may then be pressed home into theY position against base block 3 or preceding filler strands. This operation may be carried out conveniently in small devices by means of the lingers but it is obvious. that a suitable combing device or reed may be employed for this purpose.

After the strand 9 has been compressed into proper position base block 3 with its adjunct parts may be rocked Yto the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 whereat the weight of. block 5 will cause rods 2, I2, etc. to bow in the opposite direction fromY the previous one and produce an opposite shed I0. After being passed around end bar 5, filler strand 9 may be returned through shed l5 so as to produce the nextshot of the fabric. This process of inserting shots of filler strand through the open sheds formed by bending of the rods 2, I2,- etc.,alternately in opposite directions may then 'be continued until the desired length of material is obtained.

While, in order to simplify the disclosure in the description and in the accompanying drawing the apparatus of this inventionY has been illustrated Yas provided with only ten temporary warp rods, it will be understood that any desired number may be employed.

After the desired number of shots of. ller material has been laid or applied so as to produce the desired length of fabric, the material, consisting of ller 9 on the composite warp is removed from blocks 3 and 5 ready to have the temporary warp rods 2, etc. removed therefrom. To accomplish this, such knots or. connections,

, the last applied shots of filler or weft 9.

as were initially made to hold the textile warp strands 201 in proper alined relation with the respective Warp rods, are released. The resilient temporary warp rods may then be withdrawn from the fabric, leaving the permanent textile Warp in position therein.

If it is desired to reload the apparatus so as to secure aV greater length of piece, the temporary warp rodsmay be removed from all but a few of The latter may be left upon the warp rods, and the rods reinserted in the blocks 3 and 5 so that the Weaving operation may be resumed to secure the desired length.

In case it is desired to produce a fabric of greater width than one loading of the apparatus will provide for,individual strands of ller instead of a continuous one, as hereinbefore described, may be employed for each shot. This will leave the ends of. the filler strands free at one side of the material. All but thelast few resilient warp rods, most remote from the nished edge may be removed. The material may then be reinserted into the device with the group of unremoved warp rods positioned at the opposite end of block 3 from before. The loose ends of the individual ller strands may then be woven upon the rods which had been removed from the first block of fabric and reinserted in block 3 beyond the unremoved rods. This process can, of course, be repeated as many times as is necessary in order to secure the desired width.

When the double textile warp, as above suggested, is utilizedand when it is desired to produce a piece of. fabric of greater length than is possible with one loading of the loom, it is apparent that excess length of warp may be provided on each rod and the end thereof suitably accommodated adjacent block 3. When the de- Vice is once loaded, therefore, the temporary warp rods may be removed and one strand of the permanent double warp pulled through the fabric already woven to an extent suflicient to permit insertion of the temporary warpl rods. The warp rods willbe inserted relatively close to the fabric already produced at their lower ends and succes-V sive ller or weft strands then inserted, as hereinbefore described, so as to produce a continuation of the fabric already woven.

Referring now particularly to Figures 3 andfl another embodiment'is shown wherein the resilient Warp rods |0l, |02, III, H2, 52|, |22, I3I, |32, |4I, and |42 corresponding respectively to the Warp rods, similarly numbered less a hundred inthe previous embodiment, are all left free at their upper ends while the lower ends are clamped in a base block@ as before. In accordance with this embodiment, however, the base block 3 is arranged to be securely clamped to a suitable base l0. Supported adjacent the upper ends of warp rods ll, |52, etc. is a series of cams 20|, 202, 2|I, 2I2, 22|, 222, 23|, 232, 24|, and 242, cooperating one with each warp rod. These cams which operate to force selected warp rods out of alinement with the others and thereby to producea shed maybe of any desired shape, such as that shown in Figure 5. rhe entire series of cams may be mounted upon a shaft which is provided with suitable means for clamping the same against displacement but, nevertheless, permitting relative adjustment of the cams. This may be accomplished by providing a plurality of splines on shaft |00 for cooperating with grooves in the respective cams, but for the purposeof small devices, as will be employed in homecraft,

sufficiently' positiveclampingof the cams in position may be accomplished by compression of the same between aY nut threaded to the Lshaft and a suitable abutment.

Similar cams may also be provided for end bars 6, but as shown in the accompanying'drawing, end bars 6 are seated against discs 60, the throw of which is only one-half of .the throwof the perspective cams 20|, 202, etc. I-Ience bars E are maintained in an intermediate position vso as to be conveniently located for passing the weft or filler strand therearound, regardless of the position of the adjacent warp rods.

Accordingly, one end of shaft may be provided with a suitable knob |03 which, in addition to operating as a manipulating means, also provides an abutment against which the series of cams may be clamped. The other'end of rod |00 may be threaded so as to receive a wing nut ,I 04. Cams 0|, |02, etc. are, therefore, placed upon shaft |00 between knob |03 and wing nut |04 and intermediate the respective cams, it is advantageous to provide guide discs which extend radially from the shaft at least as-far as camsv 20|, 202, etc. and thus maintain warp rods |0|, |02, etc. in proper relative position. To this extent discs |05 will be understood as performing a function analogous to that of the raddle of the conventional loom. For convenience in assembly of each of the cams 20|, 202, etc. may be secured to a guide disc |05 or in fact may be secured between two such guiding discs. However, in order to permit flexibility of the device and adapt it to weaving of many different patterns so in fact that it may be converted in effect from a two harness loom to a four, six, etc. harness loom, the individual cams 0|, |02, etc. should be left independent of each other for relative phase adjustment on shaft |00. For instance, if 'only two relative positions are occupiedby cams |0|, |02, etc. that is to say, for example, the odd numbered cams are displaced 90 from the even numbered cams, the equivalent of a two harness loom will be presented. On the otherv hand, if the cams are occupying four relative positions and are disposed, for instance, in 90 phase displacement so that there is for example 90 between cams |0| and |02, 180 between cams |0| and I||, and 180 between cams |02 and 2, then it is apparent that the equivalent of a four harness loom is presented. Likewise, if the cams are arranged in 60 phase displacement, then the equivalent of a six harness loom is presented, etc.

In order to permit variation in the spacing of rods |0||02, etc., it may be convenient to mount each of the corresponding cams between guide discs, that is to say, a guide disc on each side of each cam. When this is done, spacing discs or washers may be interposed between guides for adjacent rods and thus adapt the device to variable spacing of the rods without necessitating different cams for each variation.

Instead of forming cams 20|, 202, etc., as individual elements, lugs may be upset or otherwise suitably formed upon the respective guide discs |05 and so arranged that when the discs are rotated to the selected position, they will operate to lift the warp rods as above described with reference to the cams.

In the operation of this embodiment it will be apparent that when knob |03 is turned so as to bring the point 2|0 of cam 20| into contact with warp rod |0| that warp rod will be forced out of alinemen-t with those warp rods which are contacting portion 220 of their respective cams, and

Figure 3 (where the cams are illustrated in 90 displacement-four relative positions) both cams 20| and 202 are operative to force their respective rods |0| and |02 forwardly.: Now if the knob |03 is rotated 90 further in a clockwise direction it will be apparent that while rod |0| will recede, rod 02 Will remain displaced forward and rod through the action of cam 2| I will be forced into alinement with rod |02.

It will be understood that in the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4'` base block 3 is so positioned that rods |0|, |02, etc, are biased with some tension against their respective cams even when in their receded positions (but in contact with portions 220 of the cams). When the apparatus is loaded, however, the presence of the ller material between the respective warp rods sometimes tends to reduce the tension with which the rods bear against their cams. In order to assure that the rods will be maintained in positive contact with their respective cams the seri-es of cams on the cam shaft |00 may be arranged for adjustment normal to the series of rods. In order to accomplish this shaft |00 withits series of cams'may be mounted on a pair of arms i5 which are in turn carried by standards 200. Arms H5 may be seated in suitable guide slots in standard 200 or upon'rails secured'thereto and provided with a pin and slot connection I6 so as to permit adjustment outwardly against the tension of rods |0I, |02, etc.

When heavy materials are being employed for the filler strand. it frequently happens that the tension of the temporary warp rods against their respective cams will become reduced due to distortion of the rods and in order to overcome such distortion a suitable stirrup 205 may be provided. Such a stirrup may consist of a rodextending across in front of the series of rods |0|, |02, etc. and adjustably connected to the standards 200.

Where plain weaving only is to be done upon the apparatus of Figures 3 and 4 the cams may be dispensed with and simpler means provided for accomplishing the desired shedding of the resilient Warp rods. Such a means mayconsist of a bar of such length as to span the selected series of warp rods whereby a bending force may be concurrently applied to a plurality of rods Without disturbing the position of rods not in Contact with the bar. For example, a bar 250, as shown in Figure '7, may be provided with a seri-es of dents 25| which dents are spaced apart at double the spacing of warp rods |0I, |02, etc. Bar 250 may be arranged to slide back and forth on a suitable guide plate 252 carried by standardY hence a shed is produced'nto which the illerV dents so that a displacement of. the rods is achieved, producinga shed. It will beunderstood, of course, that suitable means may be pro# vided fork locking bar 250 in the shed producing position while the filler strand is inserted. After th-e filler strand is inserted in the shed thus provided the lock may be released and bar 250 movedY backwardly so as to permit theodd numbered rods ll, III, etc. to aline themselves with the others. The bar 250 may be moved one space (the distance between the adjacentwarp rods) either to the right or to the left to bring th-e dentsV in alinement with the odd numbered rods IUI, III, etc. Now if rod 25D is moved forwardly as before, itis evident that the opposite shed will be produced.

Of course, in the Yuse of this embodiment, as in the others, the successive shots of weft or filler strands are made through alternate sheds, and after the composite warp is loaded to the desired extent, the temporary resilient warp rods are removed, leaving the textile warp in place.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the present invention accomplishes its objects and that novel weaving apparatus and process as well as novel resulting fabric is provided. It is apparent that many modifications of the process, apparatus and fabric hereinbefore described will present themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention. It is to be distinctly understood, therefore, that such modifications and the use of such individual features and sub-combinations of features as do not depart from the spirit of this invention are, although not specifically defined herein, contemplated by and Within the scope ofr the appended claims. Y

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Weaving apparatus. comprising, a base, a series of resilient rods connected in cantilever relation to said base, and a series of cams arranged respectively to cooperate with the rods for shedding the same.

2. In the art of Weaving fabrics theprocess comprising, forming a temporary resilient warp, supporting a textile warp upon the resilient warp, bending selected elements of the resilient warp to form a shed, inserting filler strands through the' shed upon the composite warp, and thereafter removing the temporary resilient warp.

3. In the art of weaving'fabrics the process comprising, forming a temporary resilient warp by Vclamping temporary resilient warp elements together at one end thereof with the opposite ends of the elements free for relative movement, connecting a textile warp strand at the free end of each of said elements, holding each textile warp strand in substantial alinementV with the element to which it is connected, bending selected elements of the resilient warp to form a shed, inserting ller strands in the composite warp, and thereafter removing the temporary resilient i warp elements. v

thereon, said cams cooperating respectivelywith said rods.

V 5.Weaving apparatus comprising, a series of resilient rods arranged to constitute a temporary warp, alternate rods being longer than the intervening rods, said'rods provided with means: for holding a permanent Vtextile Warp in alinement therewith, and means for supporting. the longer rods at oneend thereof in cantilever relation so as to permit bending thereof relative to the intervening. rods to form sheds.

6. Weaving apparatus comprising, a series of resilient rods arranged to constitute'a temporary warp, said rods provided with meansfor holding a permanent textile Warp in alinement therewith, and means for concurrently bending a plurality of selected rods relative to and independently of other rods soas to form sheds for the insertion of substantially straight textile filler strands.

'7. Weaving apparatus comprising, a base, a series of resilient rods connected in cantilever relation to said base and being free for relative bending to form sheds, said rods being of circular sectionwhereby they may be flexed in any directionQmeansfor concurrently bending a plurality of selected rods relative to and independent of otherrods so as to form sheds, and means lon each ofV said rods for holding a textile strand in alinement therewith during weaving. v

8. In the art of Weaving fabric the process comprising forming a temporary warp of metallic rods, alternate Warp rods'being longer than the intervening rods, supporting a textile warp upon each of said warp rods, bending the longer warp rods relative to the shorter warp rods to form a shed, inserting fill-erY strands through the shed upon the composite warp, and removing the temporary warp. e

. 9. In the art of weaving fabrics the process comprising, forming a temporary resilient warp by clamping temporary resilient warp elements together at one end thereof Withthe opposite ends of the elements free for relative movement, some of said warp elements being longer than others, connecting a textile Warp strand at the free end of each of said elements, holding each textile warp strand in substantial alinement with the elementto which it is connected, vbending the longer warp elements relative to the shorter warp elements to form a shed, inserting Afiller strands in the composite warp, and thereafter removing the temporary resilient warp elements.

10. Weaving apparatus comprising, in combination, a series of resilient temporary warp rods, said rods being sufficiently resilient to permit, Without exceeding their elastic limit, an amplitude of bending to provide a space for the insertion of a substantially straight weft strand be- Y tween the bent and unbent rods, means on each of the rods for holding-*permanent textile Warp in alinement therewith, means for supporting said rods in cantilever relation so that ends of the rods remote from the supporting means are freely rel- Vatively movable, said apparatus being free of obstructions which would prevent substantially straight weft strands from being laid in an open shed between bent and unbent warp rods.

GEORGIA E. WEBSTER. RICHARD H. WEBSTER. 

